56804 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 160 / Monday, August 21, 2023 / Notices 

and returned to the water at the site of 

capture with as little handling as 

possible. The researchers are not 

proposing to kill any of the listed fish 

being captured, but a small number of 

fish may be killed as an inadvertent 

result of these activities. 

Permit 27150 

The IDFG is seeking a 5-year permit 

to conduct three studies in the 

Clearwater River basin in Idaho. They 

are (1) Standard Resident Fish Stream 

Surveys, (2) Juvenile O. mykiss 

Composition in the Lower Clearwater 

River Drainage, and (3) Seasonal 

Resident Fish Movement and Angler 

Encounter Rates. Studies 1 and 3 would 

be conducted concurrently, and all three 

would involve capturing juvenile SnkR 

steelhead via boat electrofishing. 

Approximately half of the captured fish 

would simply be handled, measured, 

identified, and released. The rest of the 

captured fish would also be tissuesampled, and some would be marked for 

the purpose of determining recapture 

rates. Some of the captured fish may 

also be anesthetized to reduce handling 

and sampling stress. 

The purposes of the work are (1) to 

gather information on fish distribution, 

abundance, and composition—with an 

emphasis on evaluating the distribution 

and impacts of non-native predator fish; 

(2) assess the genetic and behavioral 

influences that hatchery-produced 

steelhead in the Clearwater River 

watershed have on ESA-listed, natural 

O. mykiss in the area; and (3) monitor 

westslope cutthroat trout distribution 

and movement. The three projects, 

collectively, would benefit ESA-listed 

steelhead by helping managers monitor 

the species’ abundance, composition, 

density, distribution, age structure, 

growth, and sources of mortality. 

Additionally, the work would help 

managers better understand interactions 

between the listed fish, their non-native 

predators, other conspecific (but not 

listed) fish, and the angling community. 

All the information to be gained would 

be used to inform management 

decisions regarding fishing regulations 

and seasons, predator control measures, 

and various recovery actions for the 

listed SnkR steelhead. The researchers 

do not intend to kill any of the fish 

being captured, but a small number may 

die as an inadvertent result of the 

activities. 

Permits 27299 and 27469 

Cramer Fish Sciences is seeking two 

new permits that would authorize them 

to take juvenile and adult SacR winterrun Chinook salmon during the course 

of conducting two Chinook egg-to-fry 

survival studies in the Sacramento 

River, CA, between Keswick Dam and 

the confluence of the river and Clear 

Creek. The purpose of both these studies 

is to estimate Chinook salmon egg 

mortality and temperature exposure as 

well as intergravel water velocity and 

dissolved oxygen concentration in 

artificial redds placed in Chinook falland winter-run spawning habitat. 

Additionally, egg survival would be 

evaluated in natural fall- and winter-run 

redds that are predicted to be exposed 

to temperatures above mortality 

thresholds. Though SacR winter-run 

Chinook are not the target species, a few 

individual fish might be encountered or 

observed during stream or snorkel 

surveys. The research is not expected to 

kill any ESA-listed fish. 

Permit 27513 

Stillwater Sciences is seeking a new 

permit that would authorize them to 

take juvenile NC steelhead, CC Chinook 

salmon, and CCC coho salmon while 

assessing aquatic habitat conditions and 

fish use in the lower Navarro River and 

its estuary in California—including 

some of the river’s lower tributary 

reaches (Marsh, Flume, Murray, Barton, 

Ray, and Mustard gulches). The research 

would benefit ESA-listed species by 

providing information on opportunities 

and constraints for salmonid habitat 

restoration in the estuary and lower 

mainstem Navarro River corridor. 

Documenting seasonal salmonid 

distribution, habitat use, and relative 

abundance of fish species would help 

managers develop and prioritize 

restoration actions for the lower Navarro 

River and estuary and contribute to 

those actions’ effectiveness. 

Juvenile fish would be collected via 

dip net, beach seine, and minnow trap 

and observed during snorkel surveys. 

Juvenile fish would be captured, 

handled, and released; a subsample 

would be anesthetized, tissue-sampled 

and PIT-tagged. The researchers do not 

intend to kill any ESA-listed fish, but a 

small number may die as an inadvertent 

result of the proposed activities. 

This notice is provided pursuant to 

section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS will 

evaluate the applications, associated 

documents, and comments submitted to 

determine whether the applications 

meet the requirements of section 10(a) 

of the ESA and Federal regulations. The 

final permit decisions will not be made 

until after the end of the 30-day 

comment period. NMFS will publish 

notice of its final action in the Federal 

Register. 

Dated: August 15, 2023. 

Angela Somma, 

Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office 

of Protected Resources, National Marine 

Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2023–17885 Filed 8–18–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XD247] 

Endangered Species; File No. 27551 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application 

and conservation plan for renewal of an 

incidental take permit. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

the Georgia Department of Natural 

Resources (GA DNR) has applied in due 

form for a permit pursuant to the 

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 

amended (ESA). The permit application 

is for the incidental take of ESA-listed 

shortnose (Acipenser brevirostrum) and 

Atlantic sturgeon (A. oxyrinchus) 

associated with the otherwise lawful 

commercial shad fishery in Georgia. The 

duration of the proposed permit is 10 

years. NMFS is furnishing this notice in 

order to allow other agencies and the 

public an opportunity to review and 

comment on the application materials. 

All comments received will become part 

of the public record and will be 

available for review. 

DATES: Written comments must be 

received at the appropriate address (see 

ADDRESSES) on or before September 20, 

2023. 

ADDRESSES: The application is available 

for download and review at https://

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/ 

endangered-species-conservation/ 

incidental-take-permits and at http://

www.regulations.gov. The application is 

also available upon request (see FOR

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). You 

may submit comments on this 

document, identified by NOAA–NMFS– 

2023–0100, by any of the following 

methods: 

Electronic Submission: Submit all 

electronic public comments via the 

Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 

https://www.regulations.gov and 

NOAA–NMFS–2023–0100 in the Search 

box. Click on the ‘‘Comment’’ icon, 

complete the required fields, and enter 

or attach your comments. 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 160 / Monday, August 21, 2023 / Notices 56805 

Instructions: Comments sent by any 

other method, to any other address or 

individual, or received after the end of 

the comment period, may not be 

considered by NMFS. All comments 

received are a part of the public record 

and will generally be posted for public 

viewing on http://www.regulations.gov 

without change. All Personal Identifying 

Information (e.g., name, address, etc.) 

voluntarily submitted by the commenter 

may be publicly accessible. Do not 

submit Confidential Business 

Information or otherwise sensitive or 

protected information. We will accept 

anonymous comments (enter N/A in the 

required fields, if you wish to remain 

anonymous). Attachments to electronic 

comments will be accepted in Microsoft 

Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats 

only. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Celeste Stout, NMFS, Office of Protected 

Resources at celeste.stout@noaa.gov or 

(301) 427–8436; Alison Verkade, NMFS, 

Office of Protected Resources at 

alison.verkade@noaa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9 

of the ESA and Federal regulations 

prohibit the ‘taking’ of a species listed 

as endangered or threatened. The ESA 

defines ‘‘take’’ to mean harass, harm, 

pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, 

capture, or collect, or to attempt to 

engage in any such conduct. NMFS may 

issue permits, under limited 

circumstances to take listed species 

incidental to, and not the purpose of, 

otherwise lawful activities. Section 

10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA provides for 

authorizing incidental take of listed 

species. NMFS regulations governing 

permits for threatened and endangered 

species are promulgated at 50 CFR 

222.307. 

Species Covered in This Notice 

The following species are included in 

the conservation plan and permit 

application: Atlantic (Acipenser 

oxyrinchus) and shortnose (A. 

brevirostrum) sturgeon. 

Background 

NMFS received a draft permit 

application from GA DNR on January 4, 

2023. Based on a review of the 

application, NMFS requested further 

information. The applicant submitted a 

complete application on June 15, 2023 

for take of ESA-listed shortnose and 

Atlantic sturgeon that may be caught 

incidental to the Georgia shad fishery. 

The State of Georgia has amended their 

commercial fishing regulations for the 

Georgia shad fishery to minimize the 

incidental capture of ESA-listed 

shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon. 

Regulations include the closure of 

upstream waters in the Altamaha and 

Savannah rivers, as well as the closure 

of Ogeechee River to commercial shad 

harvest. Additional regulations include 

closing portions of each river for 2 days 

each week and restricting the length of 

nets used which prevents nets from 

extending more than 1⁄2 way across a 

river. 

The Georgia shad fishery is open from 

January 1 to as late as April 30 each 

year, but typically ends March 31. 

Georgia regulations require that 

sturgeon captured in shad nets be 

released unharmed into the waters from 

which they were taken. GA DNR 

requests 3-year running averages for 

takes to account for the potential for a 

high-take year before or after low-take 

years. GA DNR estimates that incidental 

bycatch would not exceed 60 shortnose 

sturgeon per year (no more than 180 in 

a 3-year period) and 40 Atlantic 

sturgeon per year (no more than 120 in 

a 3-year period) in the Altamaha River, 

5 shortnose sturgeon per year (no more 

than 15 in a 3-year period) and 25 

Atlantic sturgeon per year (no more than 

75 in a 3-year period) in the Savannah 

River. A mortality rate of approximately 

2.3 percent is anticipated based on the 

best available data. 

GA DNR would use a combination of 

a trip ticket system (self-reporting by 

fishermen) and direct observations to 

monitor the number of sturgeon 

incidentally captured each month in the 

commercial shad fishery. Since 2013, 

the GA DNR has conducted fisherydependent efforts to observe a minimum 

of 10 percent of the commercial shad 

trips occurring annually in both the 

Altamaha and Savannah rivers. 

Conservation Plan 

GA DNR’s conservation plan 

describes measures designed to 

minimize, monitor, and mitigate the 

incidental take of ESA-listed sturgeon. 

The conservation plan includes 

Georgia’s amended commercial fishing 

regulations for the Georgia shad fishery, 

which are expected to minimize the 

bycatch of sturgeon by closing to shad 

fishing sections of the rivers that 

previously had the highest bycatch 

rates. These closures would also protect 

known and suspected sturgeon 

spawning sites. Georgia regulations 

require that sturgeon captured in shad 

nets be released unharmed into the 

waters from which they were taken. GA 

DNR would use a combination of a trip 

ticket system (self-reporting by 

fishermen) and direct observations to 

observe a minimum of 10 percent of the 

commercial shad trips occurring 

annually in both the Altamaha and 

Savannah rivers for the incidental take 

of sturgeon in the commercial shad 

fishery. In these efforts, GA DNR staff 

observe active fishing efforts and record 

information on captured sturgeon. 

Information collected on captured 

sturgeon include species identification; 

lengths (total and fork); and condition of 

the fish. Additional monitoring and 

mitigation actions include having GA 

DNR staff scan the fish for the presence 

of a Passive Integrated Transponders 

(PIT) tag, and if one is not found, GA 

DNR staff would insert a PIT tag into the 

fish. They will also collect a fin-clip 

from captured sturgeon to provide to the 

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for 

genetic study. Under current 

collaborative efforts, GA DNR provides 

fin-clips and outside funding sources 

are used to process said fin-clips. 

Should outside funds not be available 

for processing GA DNR would provide 

fin-clips and fund the processing of up 

to 15 samples/year. These fin-clips aid 

in better studying and understanding 

the genetic diversity and conservation of 

sturgeon found within Georgia and 

other states. Additional mitigation 

efforts include the education and 

outreach efforts conducted annually by 

GA DNR through materials presented to 

commercial shad fishermen. These 

materials, including detailed 

identification aids and specific 

instructions on properly handling 

captured sturgeon, provide needed 

information critical for helping 

fishermen better understand how they 

can help protect and sustain these 

endangered species. Additionally, GA 

DNR Law Enforcement continues to 

routinely and randomly patrol both the 

open and closed sections of both rivers. 

GA DNR considered and rejected two 

other alternatives: (1) No change to 

commercial shad regulations, and (2) 

establish new upper boundaries for 

commercial shad fishing on the 

Altamaha, Ogeechee, and Savannah 

rivers and close the Satilla and St. 

Mary’s rivers to commercial shad 

fishing. 

Funding 

Monitoring would be funded by GA 

DNR’s Annual Operating Budget. 

National Environmental Policy Act 

Issuing a permit would constitute a 

Federal action requiring NMFS to 

comply with the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) as implemented by 

40 CFR parts 1500–1508 and NOAA 

Administrative Order 216–6, 

Environmental Review Procedures for 

Implementing the National 

Environmental Policy Act (1999), an 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
56806 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 160 / Monday, August 21, 2023 / Notices 

initial determination has been made that 

the activity proposed is categorically 

excluded from the requirement to 

prepare an environmental assessment or 

environmental impact statement, 

however, the final NEPA and permit 

determinations will not be made until 

after the end of the comment period. 

Next Steps 

This notice is provided pursuant to 

section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS will 

evaluate the application, associated 

documents, and comments received 

during the comment period to 

determine whether the application 

meets the requirements of section 10(a) 

of the ESA. If NMFS determines that the 

requirements are met, a permit will be 

issued for incidental takes of ESA-listed 

sturgeon. NMFS will publish a record of 

its final action in the Federal Register. 

Dated: August 15, 2023. 

Angela Somma, 

Chief, Endangered Species Conservation 

Division, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2023–17899 Filed 8–18–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Office of the Secretary 

[Docket ID: DoD–2023–08083] 

Submission for OMB Review; 

Comment Request 

AGENCY: Defense Counterintelligence 

and Security Agency (DCSA), 

Department of Defense (DoD). 

ACTION: 30-Day information collection 

notice. 

SUMMARY: The DoD has submitted to the 

Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) for clearance the following 

proposal for collection of information 

under the provisions of the Paperwork 

Reduction Act. 

DATES: Consideration will be given to all 

comments received by September 20, 

2023. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments and 

recommendations for the proposed 

information collection should be sent 

within 30 days of publication of this 

notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ 

PRAMain. Find this particular 

information collection by selecting 

‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open 

for Public Comments’’ or by using the 

search function. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Angela Duncan, 571–372–7574, or 

whs.mc-alex.esd.mbx.dd-dodinformation-collections@mail.mil. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title; Associated Form; and OMB 

Number: Freedom of Information/ 

Privacy Act Records Request for 

Background Investigations; OMB 

Control Number 0705–0001. 

Type of Request: Revision. 

Number of Respondents: 10,097. 

Responses per Respondent: 1. 

Annual Responses: 10,097. 

Average Burden per Response: 5 

minutes. 

Annual Burden Hours: 841. 

Needs and Uses: The purpose of the 

collection is to enable the DCSA, 

Freedom of Information and Privacy 

(FOI/P) Office for Investigations, to 

locate applicable records and provide 

the requester responsive records 

pursuant to the Freedom of Information 

Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), and/or the 

Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a). It 

may also be used for the submission of 

a Privacy Act Amendment request, and 

in any FOIA or Privacy Act appeals or 

related litigation. The Freedom of 

Information/Privacy Act Records 

Request for Background Investigations 

form will also be used to refer records 

under the release authority of another 

Federal Agency. 

Affected Public: Individuals or 

households. 

Frequency: On occasion. 

Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. 

OMB Desk Officer: Ms. Jasmeet 

Seehra. 

You may also submit comments and 

recommendations, identified by Docket 

ID number and title, by the following 

method: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

Instructions: All submissions received 

must include the agency name, Docket 

ID number, and title for this Federal 

Register document. The general policy 

for comments and other submissions 

from members of the public is to make 

these submissions available for public 

viewing on the internet at http://

www.regulations.gov as they are 

received without change, including any 

personal identifiers or contact 

information. 

DOD Clearance Officer: Ms. Angela 

Duncan. 

Requests for copies of the information 

collection proposal should be sent to 

Ms. Duncan at whs.mc-alex.esd.mbx.dddod-information-collections@mail.mil. 

Dated: August 15, 2023. 

Natalie M. Ragland, 

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison 

Officer, Department of Defense. 

[FR Doc. 2023–17855 Filed 8–18–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 5001–06–P 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Office of the Secretary 

[Docket ID: DoD–2023–OS–0072] 

Proposed Collection; Comment 

Request 

AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary of 

Defense for Personnel and Readiness 

(OUSD(P&R)), Department of Defense 

(DoD). 

ACTION: 60-Day information collection 

notice. 

SUMMARY: In compliance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 

Under Secretary of Defense for 

Personnel and Readiness announces a 

proposed public information collection 

and seeks public comment on the 

provisions thereof. Comments are 

invited on: whether the proposed 

collection of information is necessary 

for the proper performance of the 

functions of the agency, including 

whether the information shall have 

practical utility; the accuracy of the 

agency’s estimate of the burden of the 

proposed information collection; ways 

to enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected; and ways to minimize the 

burden of the information collection on 

respondents, including through the use 

of automated collection techniques or 

other forms of information technology. 

DATES: Consideration will be given to all 

comments received by October 20, 2023. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, 

identified by docket number and title, 

by any of the following methods: 

Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

Mail: Department of Defense, Office of 

the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense 

for Privacy, Civil Liberties, and 

Transparency, 4800 Mark Center Drive, 

Mailbox #24, Suite 08D09, Alexandria, 

VA 22350–1700. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To 

request more information on this 

proposed information collection or to 

obtain a copy of the proposal and 

associated collection instruments, 

please write to: Office of the Assistant 

Secretary of Defense for Manpower & 

Reserve Affairs, Attn: Director, CivilMilitary Programs, 1500 Defense 

Pentagon, Room 2E565, Washington, DC 

20301–1500 or contact Capt. Rick 

Howell, richard.a.howell6.mil@

mail.mil, (703) 693–7493. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title; Associated Form; and OMB 

Number: Junior Reserve Officers’ 

Training Corps (JROTC) Program Forms; 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1